Based on the Entamoeba histolytica genome project (www.sanger.ac.uk/Projects/E_histolytica/) we have identified a cysteine protease inhibitor, EhICP1 (amoebiasin 1), with significant homology to chagasin. Recombinant EhICP1 inhibited the protease activity of papain and that of a trophozoite lysate with K i Õs in the picomolar range. By immunocytology, we localized the endogenous $13 kDa EhICP1 in a finely dotted subcellular distribution discrete from the vesicles containing the amoebic cysteine protease, EhCP1 (amoebapain). In an overlay assay, we observed binding of recombinant EhICP1 to EhCP1. As a heptapeptide (GNPTTGF) corresponding to the second conserved chagasin motif inhibited the protease activity of both papain (K i 1.5 lM) and trophozoite extract (K i in sub-mM range), it may be a candidate for the rational development of anti-amoebiasis drugs.
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